Goat Milk or Cow Milk?
Milk is a healthy and natural beverage, but do you know the differences? Here is some information to help you decide which is best for you and your family.
Digestibility
Many people struggle to digest cow’s milk, and if you’re reading this, you or someone you love probably has some level of sensitivity to cow’s milk and cow’s milk products. If this is all too familiar, read on! Goat’s milk just may be a better option, it certainly is for my family of four (who all happen to have IBS with dairy sensitivity)
Goat’s milk is scientifically proven to be easier to digest than cow’s milk, but why? One reason may be the size of the fat molecules, which are only a fraction of the size of those found in cow’s milk; therefore, much more easily broken down by the digestive system. Goat’s milk also contains a higher percentage of MCT’s (Medium chain triglycerides) …. Can you hear my inner nerd coming out yet??? These MCT’s aid in the speed of your metabolism! MCT’s have also been shown to lower cholesterol (we all want that!)
Allergies to Cow’s Milk and/or Lactose Intolerance
If you are allergic to or intolerant of cow’s milk, there is a chance that goat’s milk may be a perfect alternative. About half of all people who are lactose intolerant can in fact tolerate goat’s milk and goat’s milk dairy products (yay for cheese and ice cream!!!)
Goat’s milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk while also lacking the specific protein (Alpha Casein S1) that many who are allergic to cow’s milk are specifically allergic to.
FUN FACT: Human breast milk also does not contain this protein, making goat’s milk a much close contender to human based milk than cow’s milk.
Nutrition
Nutritional advantages (compared to cow’s milk) include :
* Higher levels of Vitamins A, B2 and niacin
*Higher protein
*More calcium content
*Naturally occurring bio organic sodium (this aided the digestive system and helps keep it healthy and functioning!)
Taste
I always know a novice when I see a cringy face while discussing drinking goat’s milk. I love this opportunity to offer a tasting and to explain how delicious it really is.
The most common question I have received is, “Doesn’t it taste, goaty?”
No, not with sanitary milking practices. (A goat’s diet can also impact this but our girls receive a balance diet that increases the delicious flavor of their milk)
Different breeds of goats have different consistency of milk as well, with different fat levels.
Nigerian Dwarf butterfat ranges from 6-10%, being one of the highest butterfat contents of all the miniature and standard sized breeds. We raise Nigerians and Mini Nubians (a mix of the equally wonderful standard sized Nubian- also a dairy goat with high butterfat content , and our beloved Nigerian) This butterfat is what gives the milk a sweet, creamy taste - not “goaty”
Fun Facts
*65% of the world consumes goat’s milk (and now cow’s milk)
*Many of the organic allergens that goats consume provide natural immunity support when their milk is consumed (example- my goats consume a lot of poison Ivy, their milk helps build an immunity to it)
* Goat’s milk is naturally homogenized, meaning the cream is already distributed evenly throughout the milk unlike cow’s milk. So why doesn’t the cow’s milk we buy in the store separate ? Because it’s been forcefully homogenized when processed (the fat globules are put under the crème pressure which ultimately destroys the cell wall and the fat globule is broken - this also releases free radicals into the milk—- no thanks)
*Many cultures across the world solely feed their infants goats milk without access to formula or human breast milk
*Goat’s milk (from a standard sized goat) is designed to support a goat kid (averaging 7-8lbs , much like a human) whereas cow’s milk is designed to support a calf (averaging around 100lbs at birth!) … think about it
*Many people worry that goat’s milk will taste “goaty”. Proper hygiene techniques and sanitary handling provide a fresh, sweet creamy milk. If you’ve ever experienced a bad taste in goat’s milk it is likely due to improper milking and/or handling techniques (or the goats got into onion grass!) Goats are generally much cleaner animals than cows.
Personally, my family loves the taste and creamy consistency of the fresh goat’s milk that our herd provides. If you have never tried a glass, find a goat friend and ask to try it! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Milk is a healthy and natural beverage, but do you know the differences? Here is some information to help you decide which is best for you and your family.
Digestibility
Many people struggle to digest cow’s milk, and if you’re reading this, you or someone you love probably has some level of sensitivity to cow’s milk and cow’s milk products. If this is all too familiar, read on! Goat’s milk just may be a better option, it certainly is for my family of four (who all happen to have IBS with dairy sensitivity)
Goat’s milk is scientifically proven to be easier to digest than cow’s milk, but why? One reason may be the size of the fat molecules, which are only a fraction of the size of those found in cow’s milk; therefore, much more easily broken down by the digestive system. Goat’s milk also contains a higher percentage of MCT’s (Medium chain triglycerides) …. Can you hear my inner nerd coming out yet??? These MCT’s aid in the speed of your metabolism! MCT’s have also been shown to lower cholesterol (we all want that!)
Allergies to Cow’s Milk and/or Lactose Intolerance
If you are allergic to or intolerant of cow’s milk, there is a chance that goat’s milk may be a perfect alternative. About half of all people who are lactose intolerant can in fact tolerate goat’s milk and goat’s milk dairy products (yay for cheese and ice cream!!!)
Goat’s milk contains less lactose than cow’s milk while also lacking the specific protein (Alpha Casein S1) that many who are allergic to cow’s milk are specifically allergic to.
FUN FACT: Human breast milk also does not contain this protein, making goat’s milk a much close contender to human based milk than cow’s milk.
Nutrition
Nutritional advantages (compared to cow’s milk) include :
* Higher levels of Vitamins A, B2 and niacin
*Higher protein
*More calcium content
*Naturally occurring bio organic sodium (this aided the digestive system and helps keep it healthy and functioning!)
Taste
I always know a novice when I see a cringy face while discussing drinking goat’s milk. I love this opportunity to offer a tasting and to explain how delicious it really is.
The most common question I have received is, “Doesn’t it taste, goaty?”
No, not with sanitary milking practices. (A goat’s diet can also impact this but our girls receive a balance diet that increases the delicious flavor of their milk)
Different breeds of goats have different consistency of milk as well, with different fat levels.
Nigerian Dwarf butterfat ranges from 6-10%, being one of the highest butterfat contents of all the miniature and standard sized breeds. We raise Nigerians and Mini Nubians (a mix of the equally wonderful standard sized Nubian- also a dairy goat with high butterfat content , and our beloved Nigerian) This butterfat is what gives the milk a sweet, creamy taste - not “goaty”
Fun Facts
*65% of the world consumes goat’s milk (and now cow’s milk)
*Many of the organic allergens that goats consume provide natural immunity support when their milk is consumed (example- my goats consume a lot of poison Ivy, their milk helps build an immunity to it)
* Goat’s milk is naturally homogenized, meaning the cream is already distributed evenly throughout the milk unlike cow’s milk. So why doesn’t the cow’s milk we buy in the store separate ? Because it’s been forcefully homogenized when processed (the fat globules are put under the crème pressure which ultimately destroys the cell wall and the fat globule is broken - this also releases free radicals into the milk—- no thanks)
*Many cultures across the world solely feed their infants goats milk without access to formula or human breast milk
*Goat’s milk (from a standard sized goat) is designed to support a goat kid (averaging 7-8lbs , much like a human) whereas cow’s milk is designed to support a calf (averaging around 100lbs at birth!) … think about it
*Many people worry that goat’s milk will taste “goaty”. Proper hygiene techniques and sanitary handling provide a fresh, sweet creamy milk. If you’ve ever experienced a bad taste in goat’s milk it is likely due to improper milking and/or handling techniques (or the goats got into onion grass!) Goats are generally much cleaner animals than cows.
Personally, my family loves the taste and creamy consistency of the fresh goat’s milk that our herd provides. If you have never tried a glass, find a goat friend and ask to try it! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.